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Here’s a roundup of devices that have recently been added to our Assistive Device Library:

Felting Needle Holder

Needle felting is a creative craft that involves transforming fibers like wool into a dense fabric or shape using a barbed needle. Repeatedly stabbing the fibers with the needle causes them to entangle and compact, forming anything from small figurines to intricate art pieces. Holding the needle can be challenging and commercial needle holders can be costly or provide limited options for shape and size.

The Felting Needle Holder is a ball-shaped device for holding a single felting needle. It is intended for anyone that has difficulty holding the needle or traditional holders due to dexterity, strength, or hand size. The ball can be twisted apart to replace needles and a cover is provided to protect the needle (and the user!) when not in use. The holder can be printed in a variety of colors to suit the user’s preference and can be printed with ‘fuzzy skin’ to provide better grip.

The initial design currently includes one size of ball (50mm / ~2 inch). Smaller or larger sizes of ball or even different shapes could be created using the included CAD files.

Attribution: Designed by ���ճԹ�51 / Makers Making Change based on a community submitted Design Challenge.

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Switch Plate – GoPro Compatible

This assistive switch mounting plate is ideal for individuals looking for a cost-effective way of mounting an assistive switch and hoping to utilize readily available GoPro mounting accessories.

The Switch Plate – GoPro Compatible is compatible with Assistive Switches that can be mounted to a flat surface. This includes commercial options like AbleNet Jelly Bean and DIY OpenAT options in our library like the Interact Switch and MMC 60 Switch.

Involving just a single 3D printed component, these can be built quite easily.

Attribution: Designed by Anna Millbourn. Conceptualization and initial delivery was completed by Michael Camarda, Zoey Clontz, Dana Mumaw and Courtney Welch. Documentation was created by ���ճԹ�51 / Makers Making Change.

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Touchpad Joystick

The Touchpad Joystick is a touch sensitive joystick that can be controlled with a light finger touch and movement. The further away from the center the joystick is touched, the further the joystick moves in that direction. When released, the joystick will return to neutral.

This device allows users to connect to the XAC and operate a joystick with little to zero force. This device is well suited for users with limited dexterity and finger strength.

Attribution: Original design by  released under MIT Licence. Documentation by ���ճԹ�51 released under CC BY-SA 4.0 License.

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Twitch Switch

The Twitch Switch is for users with limited movement capabilities. Up to three small wireless sensors can capture very small movements. The Twitch Switch can be used for activating up to three switch adapted devices or emulating a mouse or keyboard to operate a digital device such as a computer.

Sensor placement can include, but not limited to, on the user’s finger, wrist, foot, or head. The sensors are powered by rechargeable batteries and connect wirelessly to a controller. The sensitivity of each sensor can be adjusted using knobs on the controller.

Twitch Switch is intended primarily for people who have some controlled, repeatable, intentional movement, but otherwise have limited mobility and/or dexterity. This device may be beneficial for users with cerebral palsy (CP), spinal cord injuries (SCI), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Multiple sclerosis (MS), muscular dystrophy (MD), locked-in syndrome (LIS), traumatic brain injury (TBI), or other disabilities or conditions that significantly limit movement. Although the sensitivity of the wireless sensors can be adjusted to meet the users unique movement, small “twitch” like movements are ideal for optimal functionality of the Twitch Switch.

Attribution: The Twitch Switch was designed by the Rehabilitation Engineering Department at Horizon Health’s Stan Cassidy’s Centre for Rehabilitation (SCCR). Development was supported through the Government of Canada’s Innovation Science and Economic Development ��(���ձ�).

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Lift Switch

For assistive switch users who would like to activate their switch by resting on the switch and lifting off, instead of pushing down, the Lift Switch Interface will modify the output of any standard 3.5mm assistive switch!

The Lift Switch is primarily intended for users with disabilities that affect strength and endurance – instead of activating when a switch is pressed, the activation happens when the switch is released. For example, this allows someone to rest their hand on a switch and activate a switch-adapted device by momentarily lifting their hand off the switch.

Attribution: The Lift Switch was designed by the Rehabilitation Engineering Department at Horizon Health’s Stan Cassidy’s Centre for Rehabilitation (SCCR). Development was supported through the Government of Canada’s Innovation Science and Economic Development ��(���ձ�).

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Aspen Sliding Joystick

The Aspen Sliding Joystick is a new twist on an existing design.

The Aspen is the new analog version of the Birch Sliding USB Joystick. Designed to be more compact, this joystick works well for users with a limited range of movement and strength — instead of the pivoting motion of a typical joystick, the Aspen moves in a smooth sliding motion.

The joystick can be integrated with adaptive gaming or computer access setups, and can be easily mounted. Did we mention it comes with modular toppers too?

Attribution: Designed by ���ճԹ�51 / Makers Making Change

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